Dry-cleaning company fined for improper storage and disposal of toxic substance

Texmain Cleaners Ltd., a dry-cleaning business operating in London, Ontario, pleaded guilty on January 22, 2016, in the Ontario Provincial Court of Justice, of contravening the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA, 1999).

The court proceedings were initiated after an inspection of the dry-cleaning business by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers in July 2014.

The company pleaded guilty and was fined $36,000 for the improper storage and disposal of tetrachloroethylene, a toxic substance, commonly known as PERC. The fine will be paid to the Environmental Damages Fund. The court also ordered the company to publish an article in a dry-cleaning trade magazine, advising the industry on proper handling of tetrachloroethylene waste. As a result of this conviction, the company’s name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry.

Quick Facts

Tetrachloroethylene is a dry-cleaning solvent, and is designated as a toxic substance under CEPA, 1999, as it has the potential to contaminate ground and surface water.

The Environmental Offenders Registry contains information on convictions of corporations registered for offences committed under certain federal environmental laws. CEPA, 1999, is an important part of Canada’s body of federal environmental legislation. It is an Act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development.

The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) is administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. It was created in 1995 to provide a mechanism for directing funds received as a result of fines, court orders, and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit our natural environment. All fines paid following convictions for contraventions of CEPA, 1999, are directed to the EDF.

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